Seventy years ago, Vietnamese soldiers fired the first shots to open the Dien Bien Phu campaign, attacking the strongest fortress of the French colonialists, which was even stronger than those of its kind during World War II. After 56 days and nights of fierce fighting, whether it was rainy or sunny, soldiers’ blood mixed with the mud, as featured in verses by poet To Huu, the heroic Vietnamese soldiers overcame countless raids of bombs and bullets, planting President Ho Chi Minh's 'Determination to fight, Determination to win' flag on the roof of de Castries tunnel, the heart of the heavily fortified base of Dien Bien Phu.
The Dien Bien Phu Victory became the sound of thunder that shook the world, tearing through the dark clouds of colonialism and imperialism, bringing a great source of encouragement to oppressed peoples to stand up to regain independence. The three words “Vietnam”, “Ho Chi Minh”, and “Dien Bien Phu” resounded everywhere, becoming the pride and hope for freedom of progressive forces, a symbol of great bravery, and a shining star of the national liberation movement, signalling the collapse of colonialism.
The Campaign Command, under the direct leadership of General Vo Nguyen Giap, discusses the operation plan for each battle. (Photo: VNA)
The Campaign Command, under the direct leadership of General Vo Nguyen Giap, discusses the operation plan for each battle. (Photo: VNA)
The Dien Bien Phu Victory is even greater because it is a victory of a fledgling army of a weak nation which defeated a colonialist giant with outnumbering troops and weapons. During the 56 days and nights of the battle, our army eliminated more than 16,000 enemy troops and demolished a group of strongholds regarded by the West as an invincible fortress. It was also the first time in history that a major expeditionary army of a western imperialist country was exterminated in a colonial country.
Along with Bach Dang, Chi Lang and Dong Da, Vietnam now has one more new historic milestone: Dien Bien Phu – A golden milestone.
President Ho Chi Minh
Along with Bach Dang, Chi Lang, and Dong Da, Vietnam now has one more new historic milestone: Dien Bien Phu – A golden milestone (President Ho Chi Minh). With Dien Bien Phu, the Vietnamese people created a rendezvous with history for today’s wars of aggression (General Vo Nguyen Giap).
General Vo Nguyen Giap observes the battlefield for the last time before opening fire. (Photo: VNA)
General Vo Nguyen Giap observes the battlefield for the last time before opening fire. (Photo: VNA)
Seventy years have passed. The burned-out forests, grey because of bombs, are now covered with the immense green of trees. The modern Muong Thanh Airport has been inaugurated and put into operation. New houses continue to be built. On the hills and fields of death, rice and crops now grow green while flowers bloom again, returning the magical beauty of the Northwest mountains and forests to Dien Bien. The winners of the Dien Bien Phu Campaign in the past have mostly passed away, but their glorious victories will forever be preserved in history.
Over the past 70 years, there have been countless domestic and international research projects and scientific conferences, as well as tens of thousands of articles and books about the historic victory of Dien Bien Phu, but it still seems not enough. Many foreign researchers and scholars have written elaborate books, highly appreciating the victory of the Vietnamese army and people under the Party’s ingenious leadership over much more powerful invaders. But they still don’t understand how the Vietnamese people could defeat such powerful enemies.
Collections of memoirs of General Vo Nguyen Giap; research works of scholars; and books written about Dien Bien Phu by writers, military generals, and those who directly fought on the battlefield of Dien Bien Phu, have basically answered the causes and clarified the core issues why we won the nine-year resistance war against the French colonialists, laying the foundations for a 20-year resistance war against US imperialism, to liberate the country, and unify the country.
That is the result of the Party's correct resistance policy under the leadership and genius ideology of President Ho Chi Minh with a heroic army, the core content of which is "All people, comprehensive, long-term, and self-reliant”. The war strategy never changed during the 30 years of war to liberate and unify the country, and became the guideline, will, and belief of all Vietnamese people: to build an invincible army; defeat the most powerful enemies; and protect the independence, freedom and self-determination of the nation.
All people, comprehensive, long-term, and self-reliant.
But for many generations of Vietnamese people in the country as well as interested foreigners to understand those succinct and extremely profound things, there will need to be more works about the great victory of Dien Bien Phu based on new discoveries about history as well as ways to approach historical documents using advanced research methods, with the help of scientific and technological achievements, especially digital technology.
On May 7, 1954, the entire group of enemy strongholds in Dien Bien Phu were destroyed by Vietnamese troops, the “Determined to fight, determined to win” flag fluttering on the roof of Descartes tunnel. (Photo: VNA)
On May 7, 1954, the entire group of enemy strongholds in Dien Bien Phu were destroyed by Vietnamese troops, the “Determined to fight, determined to win” flag fluttering on the roof of Descartes tunnel. (Photo: VNA)
On the occasion of the 70th Anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu Victory (May 7, 1954 - 2024), Nhan Dan Newspaper opened a special page on the Dien Bien Phu Victory at https://dienbienphu.nhandan.vn. The categories included: News; Campaign developments; International public opinion; Dien Bien today; Questions and answers about the Dien Bien Phu campaign; and Multimedia. Among them, the most unique page is the Campaign Map, recreating the 56 days and nights of the Dien Bien Phu campaign, updating the progress day by day in diary form, starting from March 13, 1954 to May 7, 1954.
The diary includes all daily direct developments on the Dien Bien Phu battlefield, developments in other fronts and localities related to Dien Bien Phu Campaign, the struggle on the diplomatic front and international public opinions on the fighting in Dien Bien Phu.
On the occasion of the 70th anniversary of Dien Bien Phu Victory (May 7, 1954-2024), Nhan Dan Newspaper launched a special coverage on Dien Bien Phu Victory with the following categories: News; Campaign developments; International public opinion; Dien Bien today; Questions and answers about Dien Bien Phu Campaign; and Multimedia.
In parallel with the diary, there are reports, comments, analysis and interviews with historical witnesses for the categories of International public opinions, Dien Bien Today, Literary and artistic works on Dien Bien Phu, etc. Multimedia category provides many precious documentary images and video clips that are meticulously produced by Nhan Dan Television.
Design: Ngo Huong
Translation: NDO
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